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Frequently Asked Questions

General

I've never had to call a bail agent before - what do I need?

When you call a bail agent, it is important to have information ready for him or her. A bail agent will be able to do their job more effectively if they know the following things:

• The defendant's full name and birthday
• Where the defendant is being held (what jail)
• What the charges are against the defendant
• How much the bail amount is

How much does a bail agent cost?

Though the cost of bail agents vary, you can expect a bail agent to charge 10% of the total amount of the bail bond. This amount, called the premium, is non-refundable; it is how a bail agent makes money writing bail bonds. In many cases, especially cases with a high bail amount, the bail agent may ask you for collateral as well to cover the total amount of the bail bond.

Collateral? What's that?

Collateral is something of value that the bail agent keeps in his or her possession for the life of a bond. Collateral is usually worth the amount of the bond less the amount of the premium. Confused? If a bond is $10,000, you will typically pay the bail agent $1,000 to write the bond. In addition, you will need to provide the bail agent something worth $10,000 that the bail agent will keep for the life of the bond. If the defendant appears for all his court cases, your collateral will be returned.

What do bail agents accept as collateral?

Bail agents will accept any type of valuable property as collateral. This includes, but is not limited to, real estate property, vehicles, jewelry, electronics, stocks and bonds. If you are not sure if something counts as collateral, do not be afraid to ask. You might be surprised what is acceptable collateral.

Do I have to use a bail agent?

Absolutely not! However, many people do not have the assets to give the state of California thousands of dollars in cash for the life of a bond. While a bail agent will keep collateral worth the amount of your bond as discussed above, if you, for example, put your house up for collateral, you will still be able to live in it like normal for the life of the bond. If you pay the state of California the full amount of bail, you will not have access to those funds for the life of the bond. Using a bail agent will allow you to live a fairly normal life for the extent of the bond.

What are the laws regarding California bail bonds?

Visit BailLaws.com for up-to-date information on laws regarding California bail bonds. Just remember, we're not lawyers, so this should not be considered legal advice.

I don't need a California bail agent. Can you help me if I need a bail bond in a different state?

Bail Bonds California is powered by AboutBail.com, an online directory of bail bonds providers nationwide. AboutBail.com will assist you in finding the help you need outside the state of California.